Method of stimulating the body

ABSTRACT

A method for driving moisturising substances and/or cosmetic active ingredients into the skin of the human body has skin brought into contact with the substances and/or active ingredients and a compression element applied thereto. Then, the tissue is subsequently set into oscillation. The compression element may be formed by compression bandages or compression wraps. The tissue may be set into oscillation in that the person locates himself on a vibrating support, or that the muscles of the person are stimulated by way of electro-stimulation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. § 120 ofinternational application PCT/CH2004/000576, filed Sep. 14, 2004, whichdesignated the United States; the application also claims the benefit,under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of European patent application No. 03 405 697.8,filed Sep. 25, 2003; the earlier applications are herewith incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a relates to a method and a device for drivingmoisturising and/or cosmetic active ingredients into the skin and to amethod and a device for stimulating the body and of driving substancesinto the body.

It is known the apply creams, gels, lotions or oils which tauten andsmooth the skin, onto the body. Cosmetic effects which are achieved withthis may include a smoothing of the skin, a purifying of the tissue, anda combating of starbursts. It is likewise known to apply agents to theskin, using ointments, plasters, etc.

The disadvantage with this is the fact that the permeation of largerquantities of cosmetic creams, gels, lotions or oils or agents into theskin is a slow process, and the effect is accordingly slow and occurs ina weak manner. Furthermore, such products often contain for examplestrong irritants which are applied as an introduction agent for theactive ingredients and achieve an intensive blood-circulation of theskin and the subcutaneous connective tissue. Strong irritants mayhowever feel rather unpleasant.

It is the object of the invention to alleviate this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method ofstimulating the body which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantagesof the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a method of driving at least one of amoisturizing substance and cosmetically active ingredients into the skinof a human body, the method which comprises the following steps:

-   -   bringing the skin into contact with the substance and/or the        active ingredients;    -   applying a compression element on the skin; and    -   bringing a tissue connected to the skin into oscillation for        driving the moisturizing substance and/or the cosmetically        active ingredients into the skin.

The invention introduces the concept of actively introducing, thusdriving in the moisturising substances and/or cosmetic activeingredients rather than letting them passively permeate.

The invention therefore provides a method for driving in moisturisingsubstances and/or cosmetic active ingredients, which overcomes thedisadvantages of existing procedures, and which in particular acts in anefficient manner on large surfaces.

This is effected in that the moisturising substances and/or cosmeticactive ingredients are driven into the skin of a human body, in that theskin which is in contact with these substances is applied onto acompression element, wherein the compression element may bear such thatan oscillating-out (in the context of outward oscillation) of the tissueis prevented.

The oscillation is reflected back into the tissue on account of thecompression element. The tissue is pressed against the compressionelement at least with the cycle of the excitation frequency, by whichmeans substances to be introduced are driven in (almost “knocked in”).

The term “cosmetic active ingredient” is to be understood here in abroad context. In particular, it includes every substance whichcosmetically effectively influences or which tautens the skin, purifyingsubstances, but also moisturising substances, etc.

A “compression element” is to be understood as an element which iscommonly cover-like, thus flat, flexible and at least partly enveloping,which may be applied tightly to tissue. The compression element oftenhas a certain elasticity so that it may be stretched in a taut manner.

The invention, according to another aspect, also concerns method ofstimulating a human body or of driving substances into a human body orof stimulating a human body and driving substances into it, the methodcomprising the steps of applying a compression element to a skinsurface, of placing the human body on a support, and of setting saidsupport into oscillation so that tissue compressed by the compressionelement is set into oscillation.

Substances to be driven into a human body (the skin thereof or any otherweb) may be cosmetic or moisturizing substances. They may as analternative include any pharmaceutical agent to be applied to the skin.

The invention, according to yet another aspect, also concerns a devicefor stimulating a human body or for driving substances into a human bodyor for stimulating a human body and driving substances into it, thedevice comprising at least one of at least one compression bandage andof at least one compression wrap as well as an oscillation excitationapparatus operable to set human tissue into oscillation.

The method has at least the following basic advantages:

-   -   Due to the fact that oscillation is excited in the tissue, the        effect may be over a large area without having to operate with a        great technical effort. In particular, means for exciting the        oscillation need not be present over a large surface area or        even on the whole surface of the tissue. It is sufficient to let        the compression element bear on large surfaces of the tissue.        This may be accomplished by large-surface, taut, elastic or        non-elastic bandages or wraps. These bandages or wraps may        furthermore be directly impregnated or laden with moisturising        substances and/or active ingredients,    -   Larger quantities may be worked into the skin on account of the        active driving-in of the moisturising substances and/or cosmetic        active ingredients,    -   It may be shown that the human body, when it is excited into        oscillation at least in part regions, is automatically        exercised. For example, when standing on a support oscillating        in a three-dimensional manner, the body by reflex compensates        movements of the support. The training effect which may be        achieved with this is considerable. This is similarly the case        with electro-stimulation. The method according to the invention        thus almost without any additional effort, may be combined with        a training method which of course one again reinforces the        cosmetic effect (fat reduction and local muscle tautening).    -   The idea according to the invention, without further ado,        permits an adaptation to the consistency of the tissue into        which the moisturising substances and/or cosmetic active        ingredients are to be driven in. It is known that very different        oscillation may be excited, depending on the stress/loading of        the tissue. For example, low frequency oscillation is possible        with very flabby tissue (example: “flabby tummy”). The method        according to the invention may thus be adapted to the respective        person when required by way of adapting the excitation        frequency.

The invention according to one embodiment makes use of the fact that amultitude of oscillations are activated with “random” oscillationexcitations. The oscillations amongst other things are standing orprogressive waves in the tissue of the body, and the progressive waveshave different directions of wave propagation. Amongst the excited wavesthere are transverse waves formed along the surface, whose wavelengthfor example is shorter than a dimension of the surface area covered bythe compression element. Such waves are hindered by the compressionelement and this compression element prevents deflections. At thoselocations at which a deflection would be effected with free oscillation,the tissue is pressed against the compression element and whereappropriate is slightly compressed. This effects a driving of thesubstances to be introduced into the tissue.

The excitation of oscillation may be effected in that the person stands(or sits or lies) on a support which executes oscillation. It has beenshown that the method acts particularly well if the support carries outoscillations in several directions. For example, one may use a productwith which a plate oscillates in a three-dimensional manner. Oscillationwith frequencies between 10 Hz and 150 Hz, for example between 20 Hz and90 Hz, particularly between 30 Hz and 50 Hz have been ascertained to befavourable. A particular effect is achieved if the vibrations are notlimited to a single regular oscillation, but run in several dimensionsand possibly not in a strict periodical manner. The frequency as well asamplitude may be matched to requirements of a person, for example to thetautness of the tissue.

Methods for exciting vibrations in a support, for example a plate areknown. They may for example be based on rotating eccentric distancersbetween the vibrating plate and a stationary base. The details of suchmethods are not described in detail here.

One may also electro-stimulate as supplement to this type of oscillationexcitation. A muscle contraction activity is excited by way ofelectro-stimulation. Here too, one may select the frequency, such thatthe desired oscillation to be excited is excited in a particularlyintensive—almost resonant—manner, and/or that a particular trainingeffect may be achieved.

Finally there is yet the possibility of oscillation by way of a beltvibration apparatus. Such may be applied on or at least partly next to acompression compress or compression wrap.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a method of introducing cosmetics into the skin and for stimulatingthe human body, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since various modifications and structural changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention andwithin the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction of the invention, however, together with additionalobjects and advantages thereof will be best understood from thefollowing description of the specific embodiment when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a person with various types ofcompression compresses;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a person with several compression wraps;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a person on a vibrating support;

FIG. 4 illustrates the principle of the prevention of excursionary(outwardly moving) oscillation;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a person with several compressioncompresses or wraps and with means for electro-stimulation; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a nepped element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first,particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a person with severalcompression elements 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 that bear on the body in ataut manner. These may be manufactured using elastic elements which areknown per se, but which have a relatively large modulus of elasticityand therefore tighten in a taut manner, or using other materials whichare at least slightly elastic. Moisturising and/or cosmeticallyeffective substances, possibly in a suitable solvent, are depositedbelow the compression compresses. As an alternative or to supplementthis, the material of the bandages may also be impregnated withsubstances of this type. It is also possible to deposit severalsubstances consecutively onto the skin.

Where appropriate (not illustrated), an outer covering which may forexample be designed in a film-like manner is attached over the compress.This covering may likewise be tightened in a taut manner and furtherreinforce the effect of the compression bandage. Furthermore it may beessentially fluid-tight, and by way of this prevent pieces of clothingworn around the compress being soiled by substances with which thecompress is impregnated or is soaked.

In FIG. 2, the person instead of compression bandages wears compressionwraps 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4. These are likewise designed such that they maybear on the skin of a person in a taut manner. They may for example,similarly to blood pressure collars, comprise a reversibly actuatableclosure, for example a so-called Velcro-type closure or somethingsimilar. Such a closure too, with at least slightly elastic wrapmaterial and if some force is applied as is required, permits the wrapto bear snugly on the tissue. The wraps may also comprise additionalmeans with which the snug bearing/pressure on the tissue are furtherimproved or reinforced. Such additional means may contain self-inflatingpressure bodies or ones to be inflated in the inside of the wrap etc.

Wraps which are sleeve like and may be closed are represented in thedrawing. Closed and even stocking-like wraps are conceivable, which,where appropriate, may be slipped over with a suitable aid, similar tosupport stockings. The bandages may have an external essentiallyfluid-tight and hard-wearing layer, which renders any separate externalcovering superfluous. They may however be supplemented by a separateouter sleeve similar to the compress.

If it is not required, a piece of clothing may be worn over thecompresses/wraps and in both cases one may do away with the covering/theouter layer.

In FIG. 3, the person 1 provided with compresses 4 stands on athree-dimensionally vibrating support, specifically a plate 5. The plateis attached on a stationary base 6. Drive means by way of which theplate is set onto oscillation in various directions of excursion arelocated between the plate 5 and the base 6. Oscillation in the body ofthe person are excited by way of vibrations of the pate 5. The personsholds tight on an optional support column 7, so that he does not have toconcentrate on keeping his balance.

The multitude of oscillations which is excited in an inhomogeneoustissue which seen mathematically has an irregular shape, may not bedescribed in a simple manner. Generally however an oscillation conditionmay be approximated by a linear (that is a mathematically independent)superimposition of natural oscillations. It may therefore beillustrative to consider individual oscillations from the simultaneouslyexcited multitude of oscillations by themselves. For illustration,oscillations are represented in the figure which correspond totransverse waves running along the surface of the tissue. For suchwaves, it is the case that the propagation speed and thus with a givenexcitation frequency also the distance between two “wave peaks” isproportional to the root of the stress of the tissue (as a force). Thismeans that the more flabby the tissue, the slower do the waves propagateand thus the farther apart are the “wave peaks.”

The effect of the compression element with oscillatory excitation isshown very schematically in FIG. 4. Both drawings of the figure forillustration show the leg of a person standing on a vibrating support.In the right-hand drawing, the person in each case wears a compress 11preventing oscillations, and a sleeve 12 while the tissue may feelyoscillate out in the left-hand drawing. The free, deflecting(outwardly-moving) oscillation is represented by wave amplitudes 13advancing in the arrow direction.

In the right drawing, the tissue may not oscillate in a deflectingmanner on account of the compression element formed by the compressionbandage or the compression wrap. If such a compression wrap bears on thetissue, this acts on such oscillations as follows: An oscillation of thetissue with deflection (here also called “oscillating out”) isprevented. Instead, the tissue, roughly at those locations whereexcursion would be present if no compression element were present, ispressed locally against the compression element and at the same timepressed together, and slightly compressed depending on thecompressibility. The effect of this is to drive in the substances to beintroduced, into the skin. Compressed locations 14 in the tissue areshown schematically in the figure.

Of course, compression elements have an influence on the design andpropagation properties of the excited oscillations. This condition isnot dealt with for simplifying the discussion serving merely forillustration by way of FIG. 4.

It is not necessary for oscillations to be present which entailpropagating deflections in the case that no compression element ispresent. “Standing waves” may just as easily be formed, similar to theoscillations which result with a cable which is clamped at both sides.As mentioned, the actual condition of oscillation may be seen in anycase as a superposition of a multitude of possible oscillationconditions.

In FIG. 5 a person is represented who wears compression compresses(bandages) 21 which are shown very schematically, as well as likewisevery schematically drawn electrodes 22 of an electro-stimulationapparatus. The electro-stimulation apparatus is used in addition to theplate according to FIG. 3 which is capable of vibration, and likewiseserves for exciting oscillation in the tissue. The excitation of musclecontractions via electro-stimulation is known per se and will not beexplained in detail here.

Instead of the plate capable of vibration and the electro-stimulationapparatus, yet other further means for exciting oscillation in a tissueis conceivable. What is important within the context of the invention isthat the tissue itself is excited into oscillation, and specificallygenerally such that it oscillates on the whole surface of thecompression compress or wraps and not only in a pointwise manner. Analternative to a vibrating platform to be especially mentioned is avibratory massage device.

An apparatus for driving in moisturising substances into the skincomprises the following constituents:

a means for exciting oscillation in a human tissue, for example a platecapable of vibration, or an electro-stimulation apparatus;

at least one compression bandage and/or wrap. A plate capable ofcompression may be provided with an outer, substantially fluid-tightcovering;

preferably moisturising and/or cosmetically effective substances. Theseare either directly present in the bandage/wraps (i.e. the latter are atleast partly impregnated with them) or they are provided in separatereceptacles

possibly additional cover material, essentially fluid-tight, for examplea film.

The moisturising and/or cosmetically effective substances may be presentas gels, emulsions, creams, oils, lotions, etc. and have a broadcombination of contained substances. Possible tissue- and skin-caringcontents are known from cosmetics. They may contain water, oils and/oralcohols and at least some of the group of extracts from ginkgo leaves,ginseng roots, macadamia, Malva sylvestris, mint, balm, marigold, algae,olives, avocado, horse chestnut, bladderwrack, stinging nettle,horsetail, jojoba oil, maize oil, almond oil, wheat germ oil, andfurther natural ingredients as well as synthetic active ingredients.

Apart from cosmetically effective substances, also other substances maybe applied by the method according to the invention such as any agent.Further, the method may also be used to stimulate the body withoutapplication of any product (without any active ingredient). In this way,it may enhance the blood circulation and stimulate Lymph flow.

An especially preferred embodiment of a device according to theinvention includes a compression element which comprises a stimulatingelement with a plurality of inwardly facing neps. The stimulatingelement (or “nepped element”) may have any shape with neps facingtowards the skin. It may be formed as a collar or sleeve or may simplybe a laminar element with a plurality of protruding neps. As yet anotheralternative, the stimulating element may be formed as a soft,elastically deformable laminar element with a plurality of hard knotsserving as neps if pressure is applied between the laminar element andskin adjacent thereto.

An example of a stimulating element 31 is shown in FIG. 6. Thestimulating element is a silicone film 32 with a plurality of siliconeneps 33 protruding on one side.

The stimulating element is preferably at least partially made fromsilicone, for example, at least the neps are made from silicone. Thestimulating element may be used in combination with a wrap or a sleeve.For example, a stimulating element may be placed on top of a wrap orsleeve of the above-described kind. The stimulating element—if it is notformed as closed collar—may then be surrounded by an elastic foilkeeping it in place. Additionally or as an alternative, the stimulatingelement may be formed as trousers, a sleeve, or a wrap or bandage withinwardly facing neps.

1. A method of driving at least one of a moisturizing substance and acosmetically active ingredients into the skin of a human body, themethod which comprises: bringing the skin into contact with thesubstance and/or the active ingredients; applying a compression elementon the skin; and bringing a tissue connected to the skin intooscillation for driving the moisturizing substance and/or thecosmetically active ingredients into the skin.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, which comprises applying the compression element tosubstantially prevent a deflecting oscillation of the tissue.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the applying step comprises placinga compression element in the form of a tautly tensioned elastic bandageor wrap.
 4. The method according to claim 3, which comprises attaching afilm around the elastic bandage or wrap.
 5. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the step of bringing the tissue into oscillationcomprises positioning the human body on an oscillating support.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, which comprises additionally triggeringcontraction activity of muscles by electro-stimulation.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, which comprises engaging the body with means forexciting the tissue into oscillation at a location of the body that isdifferent from a location bearing the compression element.
 8. A devicefor stimulating a human body and/or for driving substances into a humanbody or for stimulating a human body and driving substances into thebody, the device comprising: at least one compression device selectedfrom the group consisting of a compression bandage and a compressionwrap configured to be placed on the body, and an oscillation excitationapparatus operable to set human tissue into oscillation.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein said oscillation excitation apparatuscomprises a support with an electrically operable drive configured toexcite said support into oscillation, wherein said support is configuredto support a human body standing thereon and wherein said drive isconfigured to set said support into oscillation when the human bodystands on said support.
 10. The device according to claim 9, whichfurther comprises an electro-stimulation apparatus for stimulatingcontraction activity of muscles.
 11. A method of stimulating a humanbody and/or of driving substances into a human body, the method whichcomprises the steps of applying a compression element to a skin surface,placing the human body on a support, and setting the support intooscillation to cause tissue compressed by the compression element intooscillation.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein thecompression element is a compression bandage or a compression wrap. 13.The method according to claim 11, which comprises, prior to applying thecompression element to the skin surface, applying at least one of acosmetic substance, an agent, and an active ingredient to the skinsurface and/or to the compression element.
 14. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the compression element comprises a nepped elementformed with neps facing towards the skin.
 15. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the nepped element is at least partially made ofsilicone.
 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the compressionelement further comprises a wrap or a sleeve underneath the neppedelement.
 17. The method according to claim 14, which comprisessurrounding the nepped element by an elastic foil.